Already overloaded with right-handers with experience closing games in the big leagues, the Nationals are adding another big name to their bullpen … and making a major financial commitment to him.

The Nationals have agreed to terms on a two-year, $28 million contract with veteran Rafael Soriano, a source familiar with the deal confirmed. Terms also include a $14 million option for 2015 that would automatically vest if Soriano finishes 120 combined games over the next two seasons.

The surprise addition of Soriano (a Scott Boras client) gives the Nationals yet another power right-hander at the back of their bullpen, but raises immediate questions about how manager Davey Johnson plans to divvy up roles.

Drew Storen was in line to retain his position as the Nationals’ closer after a strong finish to 2012 before his blown save in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. Tyler Clippard, who led the club with 32 saves last season, figured to retain his role as the top set-up man.Read more

While it's certainly possible there will be no changes to either Storen or Clippard's role, teams don't typically dole out $14 million per year to a seventh-inning reliever.Agents don't typically let seventh-inning relievers sign contracts with options that vest based on number of games finished either.

Ghost Of Steve M. said… I said after the playoffs meltdown that the Nats would look at Boras 2 veteran closing candidates. Madson was off the board quickly. If the Nats did this, its another example of "going for it".January 15, 2013 2:17 PM Peric, when I wrote that in October you told me I was crazy.Lerner just went crazy! January 15, 2013 2:42 PM

I mention this before ALR re-signed as a possible Rizzo move, all here told me I was crazy. With that said, once ALR re-signed, I no longer thought it would happen as I figured if ALR signed elsewhere the draft pick comp would at least be close to the #1 pick lost. I'm a little shocked.I though a larger discount too.

The option vests if Soriano finishes more games in two years than he has any two seasons in his career. So I'd call that improbable. And you can bet this was the last part of the negotiation as the Nats have to be crossing their fingers he doesn't reach that number. The loss of a pick — not so much, because of how far down they'll draft, but most important the pool money — really hurts. Rizzo's response to the lost pick would have been to pick some kid deemed unsignable, or some Gioloto-type who's already been marked like a side of beef for surgery, and pay him a lot more than slot. Losing the pool money pretty rules out the Nats' layaway tactic for draft picks.

I don't see how they are trading Clippard or Storen. Can't trade one without trading both and they are NOT doing that. Wow. Some bullpen. OK, everybody move over, just pitch, boys, just pitch. Didn't see this one coming.

SCNatsFan said… Ghost, I disagree. I think Clip is going. Giving away the pick and losing the talent means the Nats can move Clip and Morse for something very good. January 15, 2013 2:51 PM On the surface many think it means Clip or Storen will be traded.There's still the question of Vazquez. To me it says the weaker guys need to worry.

Natslady I don't follow what you are saying. Why wouldn't they be able to move one of Clipp or Storen without moving the other? That makes absolutely no sense. I could see them keeping all three. Clippard in the 7th, Storen in the 8th and Soriano in the 9th. Clippard has excellent numbers against lefties so that would eleviate some of the need for anything more than Bill Bray and Zack Duke in the pen from the left side.SorianoStorenClippardStammenBrayDuke+1 of Mattheus, Garcia, HRod etcThis, however does make not bringing Burnett back look odd. They are paying Soriano more in one year than they would have for Burnett's entire contract.

I don't see how they are trading Clippard or Storen. Can't trade one without trading both and they are NOT doing that.I don't recall them being joined at the hip. Are they so fragile that like twins they would fall apart if separated? Not the kind of mental toughness you want in a setup man.

pdowdy83 said… Natslady I don't follow what you are saying. Why wouldn't they be able to move one of Clipp or Storen without moving the other? That makes absolutely no sense.Consider the source. This is the wack job who said she's changing her seat just because I happen to sit in the same section.

I always thought Clippard was a seventh inning guy misplaced as the set-up man.Which leaves open what to do w/ Mattheus.If a trade looms — which I don't dispute — I'd like to see something like Morse and Clippard to the Mariners — I agree Clippard has been overused and I don't feel as confident in him as I once did. Plus Rodriguez just to make someone take him. In exchange, one of the young starters and one of the three other players (Franklin, Furbush and one other guy) AZ was offered for Upton.

By the way, its a big over-pay. I think Boras takes advantage of Lerner. Shouldn't have paid more than $11 million for a Qualified Player given nobody else was biting no matter what Boras says.I am all for using CASH in the "GO FOR IT" mode.

Mark, please check these facts: "…The 33-year-old right-hander previously was an All-Star closer for the Rays in 2010, saving 45 games while posting a 1.73 ERA. He then signed a two-year, $22 million deal with New York, serving as Mariano Rivera's set-up man in 2011 before taking over ninth-inning duties last season after Rivera suffered a major knee injury."I though he signed a longer deal with the Yankees for around $14M per, with an opt out, which is why he became a free agent this year.

Nice! Soriano is going to be the man. It looks to go Clipp 7th, Storen 8th, Soriano 9th. And that works perfectly for me. I was hoping the club would go big like this and make the pen as lock-down as the SP. HRod is likely gone and/or some trade is brewing (to replace the pick that they give away maybe). Love this move.

Clip & Storen aren't joined at the hip. They are married, however, which is an interesting quandry for a GM. Yes, Rizzo could trade Storen. I don't think he will, though, I think we've seen the last of Henry.

NatsLady, I don't think you have anything to worry about with either Clip or Storen. I agree that we've seen the last of Henry but he has only used up 7 of his 9 lives and may make it north with the 25.Money is no object here as I have said before. Its spending smart money and while Rafael Soriano cost $14 million it was only a $3 mill overpay.Payroll heading over $120 million.

For the record, I don't like this move at all. The salary is to high and the lost pick and slot money hurts. If this move was gonna happen, why not trade Drew for Span instead of Meyers? Also, this should have been a one year deal at about $8M, I have no idea who we were bidding…End of rant.

pdowdy83 said…Natslady, what the heck are you talking about? Clippard was here before Storen and they have nothing to do with each other besides both being relievers on the same team.—-They live together, blog together and seem to be best friends.

Agree with the sentiment of a lot of posters… Why exactly did we sign Soriano??If you had asked me yesterday what our greatest strength was for next season, RH power relievers would have been up there with corner outfielders.So why are we spending $28mil on another?MicheleS got it right. This is totally a Mike Ilitch move. Needlessly throw around a lot of money so he can see his team win before he goes. The problem is, he's hamstringing the team in the future…

i don't like the fact that Lerner had a heavy hand, while it might have been a good pick up, in Rizzo we Trust. Curious on his take on it he obviously didn't say flat out no or else Lerner wouldn't have offered the contract right?

Tcos — they were not going to get the guy at a $8M 1 yr deal. They got the best FA closer available and on a deal that is not so wild — star players on 2 year deals are in this ball park. Maybe Morse goes in a pakcage now. We'll see.

This is Rizzo saying "World Series or bust." For those who don't like the move, what is it? Surely not the money. Who cares how much the Lerners spend as long as we win? Losing the draft pick? Ok, fine, a legitimate concern. But remember, it's the 29th pick, not the 1st, or even the 7th. And either Clipp or Storen could bring us a very decent prospect in return. The only other reason would be thinking that Clipp or Storen (one will likely be traded this year I think) will perform better this year than Soriano. I just don't agree with that. Rizzo may be getting ready to trade Morse, Clipp/Storen, maybe Bernadina to refill our starting pitching pipeline. Let the bidding begin.And it looks like H-Rod's days are truly numbered

Section 222 said… This is Rizzo saying "World Series or bust." Nope, this was Ted Lerner and Davey Johnson saying World Series or bust.It sends a message over to StanK also about buying players. The bullpen was the weakest part of the 25 man. It no longer is.

Agree with the sentiment of a lot of posters… Why exactly did we sign Soriano??Reposting Kilgore's analysis which appears to fall in line with Ghost's from October:Now that we have that out of the way, there are also plenty of reasons why it does make sense. Davey Johnson loves his ‘A’ and ‘B’ closer system on winning teams, and Soriano’s presence would give him that option. If the Nationals challenge 100 wins next season, both Soriano – who notched 42 saves with a 185 ERA+ and 9.2 K/9 for the Yankees last season – and Storen would get plenty of save chances.The Nationals don’t need to replace Storen, who was great down the stretch until the final game. But they could augment him. Remember last year, when the Nationals signed Brad Lidge to swing between closing and setting up to take pressure off Clippard and Storen? Soriano would be like a Super Brad Lidge. He’d also be about a dozen times more expensive, but we’ll get to that.Last year, scouts believed the back of the Nationals’ bullpen wore down significantly in September. Soriano, who has averaged 56 games the past seven seasons, would give them enough depth to prevent that this season. So he’s not a lefty. They could still execute one of the smartest moves in any sport – strengthening a strength.The Nationals clearly rank in the top third of the league, if not the top five, with their rotation, infield and outfield. By adding Soriano, they would make their bullpen every bit as good, on paper, as the rest of their team. The bullpen is good, potentially very good, as it is. It could be excellent with Soriano.

is an "Illitch move" some kind of slur? I don't get it. The Tigers are winners year after year and their club is chock full of studs, in no small part because they have an owner who'll go get a guy. I am not sure how fans can not like the club getting a guy of this caliber. It's not like they traded Bryce Harper for some shag balls and a fungo bat here. They got a lot better. Do you remember game 5? This is — Adios Nuke LeHrod sailing one to the backstop in a tight game — Hello a lot of shut down 7th-8th-9ths and curly W's in the books.

The bullpen was the weakest part of the 25 man. It no longer is.Even if they do trade Clippard, if Bray comes back from his injuries then the Nats would have the best bullpen in baseball. Bar none. And that is how you win 100+ games.

I understand Pam Storen reads the blog. I really really hope she understands. I think she does–this is the 21st century. If the Nats had won the WS, there would have been an announcement, I would bet big time money. But, brothers (e.g., Uptons) play on different teams, so can Clip and Store. This will be something everyone will have to meditate upon.

Will..One thing I will disagree on.. The moves this off season are not hamstringing the team. NOT one of the moves is beyond 2015. Span has an option for 2015, Haren is a 1 year rental, ALR is 2 years, and this guy is 2 plus an option. This gives Rizzo 2-3 years to re-stock the Farm and bring up the next batch, plus after 2015, he will need the money for the young guys we have now.

If neither Clipp nor Storen is traded, they may not like pitching the 7th, but one of them will do it gladly if Davey tells them too. A 7-8-9 of Clipp, Storen, Soriano rivals anything any other bullpen can throw out there, including the Braves. Indeed, we now have one of the best bullpens in the game to go along with the best starting rotation and the best defense. With Stras, JZnn, Haren, and Det still not likely to go much deeper into games, that will be very valuable. Kudos to Rizzo.

Sect222, I truly believe there was some hurt feelings between Rizzo and Boras over the Boras "We built this team" comment and I believe Boras went right to Ted Lerner on this and took Ted's money.I don't like it for the reason I think Boras took advantage of Mr. Lerner but on the fan side, who cares, go for it and win it all!In the words of MicheleS, WOOOOOO HOOOOOO™

Sheldon Pais==> Who said Clip wanted to close? Er, Clip said he wanted to close. It really bothered him being behind other guys who got to close. He got his chance, he did pretty well with it. But his shoulder, it can't be good after these years of over-use.

I worry about the chemistry of the pen now. I also worry about Drew's mental make up. Is this Rizzo smacking Drew in the face for his blown save. My opinion on Drew is that he is young and has filthy stuff and was gonna develop into the best closer in the NL. He's at 97 with a viscious curve and had recently learned a nice 2 seamer which ran down and away from lefties. I don't like this move, but the old saying is that you never have enough arms. Boy…..is Rizzo in bed with Boras or what?

I love when I'm just hanging out, minding my own business, then check the old google reader and find out the Nationals went and made themselves better. Again. Seems to be happening a lot these days. No idea what this means as far as trades are concerned (no one does). Might mean nothing. At this point, Rizzo could sign Ronald McDonald to a five-year, 100 million dollar contract and I'd be ok with it. He's earned my trust and then some.

This gives Rizzo 2-3 years to re-stock the Farm and bring up the next batch, plus after 2015, he will need the money for the young guys we have now.Not every starter is a Strasburg … it typically takes between 2 -3 years to develop a starter. They have some guys on the M*A*S*H list per Luke Erickson who might develop in that time including Solis, Purke, Giolito, and Karns. But some could end up in the bullpen.Rizzo must acquire young starting pitching talent to develop NOW to give them that development time.

Pais, I mean, it bothered Clip that other guys (Lidge, Henry, etc.) got the chance to close when Storen was injured and he was passed over. That was in the papers last year, the only time I've ever heard Clip speak up about stuff like that. Now we will see. Very interesting/outstanding bullpen.

Peric @3:22, thanks for that. My reasoning in October if Sec222 can find one of my posts on signing a Boras closer had to do mostly with Boras convincing Lerner that Storen failed him.This is Boras's M.O. to convince GMs or in this case the owner that he has a player to get them the ring.I theorized this would happen but thought it would've happened quickly. I honestly wrote it off and kind of shocked that it happened at this point in time.

Don, talk to me in 5 years about that Prince Fielder contract.The Tigers are going to be an extremely expensive and old team in a couple years, and when they lose Cabrera, they won't even be very good. Did you notice they were the 6th best team out of 14 teams in the AL last year? That's not very impressive, especially in a miserable AL Central.They actually remind me a lot of another team with an extremely overpaid "star" surrounded by a bunch of other old, overpaid players and starting to go through some tough times, letting their best players leave. Soriano might be able to fill you in on how that's working with his old employers…

Worth pointing out that draft experts don't see 2013 class as particularly talent-laden. #Nats might not miss 29th overall pick that much.And he got that from NFA_Brian. Nothing on the radar from the MASN minor league expert Byron Kerr as yet.

If you are Storen and you see this signing, sulk and hide under a rock then you don't have what you need to close. If you see this signing and work harder to have these guys set you up then that's the kind of player I want closing for this team. Competition breeds better results.

What I see as more likely? Soriano and Storen alternate closing, based on matchups, the status of the game, etc. Clip stays as the set-up man in the 8th, and we have Mattheus/Bray/Garcia pitch the earlier innings as needed (which I'm thinking won't be nearly as much pitching as in the past, since I don't think Davey will be as conservative with the starters as he was this year.)Alternating Storen and Soriano fits in with what Davey tried last year with Clip and Storen after Drew came off the DL. Makes sense to me–not that I'm not saying anything that other people haven't already pointed out. Signing Soriano is a bit of a head-scratcher, but hey, if Ted Lerner wants to win a World Series this year and is willing to pay out, I'm not gonna quibble.

peric, Purke is the best pitcher I have seen in the Nats system but I haven't seen Giolito and think that the pipeline is there.You have to do what the Rays have done and build most of the talent organically from within. Remember, even the Yankees had a Core 4 of Jeter, Mariano, Pettite and Posado. The Nats have a much deeper Core. All it takes is lots of cash and team unity to keep that core together.

NatsLadyBut i think Clip is miles better than lidge or henry, so sure that would be a bother, but as the best 7th inning guy in the league followed by two of the best setup and closers in the league? why not? everyones gotta do their part

Do people really think that Ted Lerner told Rizzo to sign a guy who Rizzo didn't want? No way. Ted Lerner being "very involved" means the deal came down to more money than Rizzo thought he could spend and the Lerners saying "go for it!" Maybe there was a bidding war at the end and, for once, the Nats were the last team standing (cf., Texiera, M; Chapman A; Fielder, P.; maybe Howell, J.P.) Agree with Michele that this does not hamstring the team for the future. One 1st round draft pick at the back end of the draft is not going to make or break our long term prospects. Having an outstanding bullpen to go with an outstanding rotation sure helps us in the short term.

MicheleS said… AND another tidbit:Dan Kolko‏@masnKolkoWorth pointing out that draft experts don't see 2013 class as particularly talent-laden. #Nats might not miss 29th overall pick that much.January 15, 2013 3:29 PM If you are going to give up a Draft Pick, it might as well be that late in the Draft but it still hurts as the shift has to be to International Signings to supplement the depth of the farm system.

NatsLady said… Clip & Storen aren't joined at the hip. They are married, however, which is an interesting quandry for a GM.NatsLady said… I understand Pam Storen reads the blog. I really really hope she understands. I think she does–this is the 21st century. If the Nats had won the WS, there would have been an announcement, I would bet big time money. Yes, in the 21st century it is perfectly acceptable for two guys to get married, at least in some states. Maryland being one of them. Just hope they were ready to be thrown out of the closet and into the clubhouse, where from what I've heard it's not the 21st century yet.

The Nats have a much deeper Core. All it takes is lots of cash and team unity to keep that core together.I can't agree violently enough with that statement.But, if I am Mike Rizzo, Roy Clark, Minniti and all the smart guys they have in that FO I am into insurance if I can buy it. Remember, the Lion or White Knight of the Nats, Ted Lerner is 87 years old. As someone had to point out in the flurry of tweets. This may not happen after he passes?We don't know for certain that the Nats will be able to keep that core. So unfortunately its hope for the best and plan for the worst. Giolito, Purke, and Solis are a part of that strategy. As is Karns. And there are others but they need more … just in case.As always they can be traded once they reach a certain value as we saw with Alex Meyer. Or used if they lose some or all of that core.

Every RP guy wants to close, like you siad Closers get paid. And they get he big love from the fans. The Nats likely did not spend $28M to have Soriano share a role. It is very likely that he'll be the primary guy — and on paper, right now, even without the big contract factoring in, he should be anyway. He's the best guy for the job on the roster.

BigCat said… I hate to say it, but my boy HRod is in trouble now January 15, 2013 3:38 PM Like I said he's used up 7 of his 9 lives already. With the ability of flexibity of Minor League options and the fact that Bray can open in the Minors since he is on a Minor league deal the team can still see what HRod has.SorianoStorenClippardDuke+3 of Stammen, Bray, Mattheus, Garcia, HRod etcThis also doesn't include the possibility of Vazquez signing a MLB deal and starting out in the bullpen.

The Nats likely did not spend $28M to have Soriano share a role. It is very likely that he'll be the primary guy — If Davey, again, implements is A and B bullpen he'll be sharing closer duties with Storen. As Kilgore pointed out the bullpen wore down in September. The way to keep that from happening is to apply Davey Johnson's strategy to the problem and there are always injuries. Both Storen and Soriano could get 30+ saves on a 100 win team and be fresh for October.

This also doesn't include the possibility of Vazquez signing a MLB deal and starting out in the bullpen.Or Harren, since Vasquez has the power arm. And we all know the power arms typically take precedence over ground ball control types with Rizzo and Johnson.

ok, so Espinosa, Clippard, and Morse, for Cano and Rapada? Yeah ,I know, it'll never happen.They are not going to trade for Cano!!! You might as well move Morse to 2nd base you'd get more production and he could play the position.Too many people tend to overestimate the Spankees. There IS A REASON why the Spankees FO is stoked to get three legit first round picks in this year's draft! That trade would be the ultimate in stupidity but surely something Bowden would go for.

Don said… Tcos — they were not going to get the guy at a $8M 1 yr deal. They got the best FA closer available and on a deal that is not so wild — star players on 2 year deals are in this ball park. Maybe Morse goes in a pakcage now. We'll see. Me: Maddison was in a similar situation last year and that is what he got, that was my basis. I didn't see any other bidders, the Yankees said "no thanks" to a return and the whole draft choice/ pool thing. I thought it was a fair estimate and if the Nats didn't set forward will never know.

peric said… @Ghost Of Steve M. said…The Nats have a much deeper Core. All it takes is lots of cash and team unity to keep that core together.I can't agree violently enough with that statement.Peric, twice in one day. We are making progress!This deal came together quickly and out of Rightfield!Like you said, Ted Lerner is 87. He knew 2012 was a pleasant surprise that exposed some weaknesses, but he expects it in 2013.Kudos to Boras for showing Mr. Lerner why the Nats didn't advance. All he had to do is show Mr. Lerner as Warner Wolf used to say "to the videotape" and watch Storen fidgeting and the quotes of "smelling blood in the water" with Gio.If the Nats had a stealther 8 man bullpen in the playoffs they could've pulled Gio after the 3rd inning with that 6-0 lead.That's what Boras showed Ted Lerner. Bullpens save important games.The one message I impart on Davey is when you go for it you sometimes have to step on those you love and you may hurt some feelings but this is about the other 24 guys not just about 1.

You know, I thought they might go after Soriano, but thought they might work some odd sign and trade deal with the Yankees for MorseThat's not how Boras works. He cuts out the middle and goes directly to the owner … in this case Ted Lerner.

One blown save after being used a couple of days in a row in the postseason doesn't mean Storen can't close. I'm not so sure we want to consult Boras for a pitcher to fill the most important postseason innings after Jackson's October…

Bzl. said… Anyone who thinks that Rizzo wasn't 100% behind this is out of his/her mind. January 15, 2013 3:56 PM I'm out of my mind. Boras did this direct with Mr. Lerner mano y mano. Of course Rizzo had a glass to the door cheering it on.

Peric, the Nats would be loaded for this year with that trade, and Rendon can be shifted to 2nd next year or maybe be traded for similar talent if not. Clippard would probably make more than he's worth in arbitration next year, Morse would be a FA, and Espi is a necessary loss to win this year.

Clippard would probably make more than he's worth in arbitration next year, Morse would be a FA, and Espi is a necessary loss to win this year.Espy is a better choice at second base for the Nats. Why help the Yankees by saddling them with Cano? They have his offense in Morse and Morse can and has played 2nd base probably at close to Cano's skill level. Espy is light years better.Its a really fantasy baseball thinking not professional baseball.

Davey always talks about "my closer." You only need one of those because we're not going to win every game, or have a save opportunity in every win. Until Storen was injured last spring, he never wanted to have A and B closers or closer by committee. I repeat. Davey's A and B bullpen construct is not about having two closers. It's about having two sets of 7th and 8th inning guys, who pitch on alternate days in close games, whether or not we are winning or losing. This contrasts with the usual A and B teams, like we had last year, with Burnett and Clipp almost never pitching when we were losing. In blowout games, you use your long guys into the 7th or 8th, and everyone gets some extra rest. So, potentially, you have:A:MatheusClippand B:Bray (H-Rod?)StorenSoriano closes all save opportunities, unless he's pitched in two (or maybe three if his pitch counts were low) games in a row, in which case the other group's 8th inning guy does the job. The long relievers match up with the starters of the opposite hand — so Stammen backs up Det and Gio, while Dukes backs up our righties. This kind of arrangement, which keeps everyone fresh, even when you're in a bunch of close games in a row, only works if you have two guys who you can trust with the 8th inning. Now we have that.

Peric, I think the Rays have a CF on their wishlist that they won't get and could bring in Morse as a LF/DH to slide Desmond Jennings to CF.They also need a middle infielder but that is secondary. I don't see them doing a blockbuster now as they usually like trading high priced pitchers and they probably won't move David Price until they are out of the playoff hunt or next off-season.If they do anything I see Morse for a prospect. Maybe sweeten the deal with HRod for a better prospect.

Soriano closes all save opportunities, unless he's pitched in two (or maybe three if his pitch counts were low) games in a row, in which case the other group's 8th inning guy does the job. He's 33 years old. How old is Storen again? He might get most save opportunities but not all. That's Giggleman thinking.

I think Clip gets traded – he is due for a pretty big payday. I also think Soriano is the designated mentor for Drew for the next two years to make sure he ends up tough as nails. He is still a baby and has plenty of time to be a big league closer. Plus – if you win 100 games, any one closer can close, what, maybe 40? Maybe Drew will have a longer career if Davey doesn't push him to 45 like 2011. He ended up missing a lot of the season after that. This just gets more and more interesting, though.

The Fox said… I think you might be right Ghost with the Yankees making a trade for Morse. Something tells me there is more to this. January 15, 2013 3:59 PM As they say in Vegas, I'm having a very good day. It helps being able to read Spanish. I got my tidbits before even Heyman had it which scared me into thinking it wasn't real.

Mark -I'm confused by your statement that the Nats' first pick is #29 overall. Since they had the best record in baseball in 2012, won't they pick last in the first round?That would make the Nats' first pick #31 overall, wouldn't it? (Since the Pirates get an extra first round pick to make up for their not signing Mark Appel, there are 31 picks in the first round.At least that's this page on the MLB website seems to say. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121120&content_id=40372360&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlbBut maybe I'm overlooking something?

If they do anything I see Morse for a prospect. Maybe sweeten the deal with HRod for a better prospect.For the right prospects they could easily get Lombo, Moore, Morse, and perhaps Clippard as well. Maybe even H-Rod. They could use them all because the Rays are an AL team with a DH and they lost some offense this season with Pena and Upton now gone. The Rays really could use all of them. They might have to throw Karns in as well. But I would imagine they might be able to come away with some top high-ceilling guys from A ball and lower who they could develop. And perhaps at least one who is almost major league ready.But who knows? That's why Rizzo gets paid the big bucks to make that sort of thing happen. To ensure both teams get what they are looking for.

Why pay a guy 14 million bucks to pitch relief innings if you aren't willing to go all in? If Soriano is only the co-closer, it seems like Detwiler really should be the in the pen and the Nats should get Lohse.

peric said…That's not how Boras works. He cuts out the middle and goes directly to the owner … in this case Ted Lerner.Really? He goes to Lerner and says, "You can have Soriano for two years at $28 million; let's do this just between you and me – don't tell your GM."And Lerner says, "Duhhh, okay!"And Rizzo, on discovering that his boss suddenly thinks he's Dan Snyder, doesn't blow a gasket?

peric, all I'm saying is that Soriano will be our closer. He won't officially share the duty with Storen or anyone else. Storen (or Clipp) will close on occasion when Soriano needs rest. If being 33 years old means he needs more rest than a 25 year old, so be it. But it's not going to be an every other day thing. That's not what the A and B bullpen construct means.

Really? He goes to Lerner and says, "You can have Soriano for two years at $28 million; let's do this just between you and me – don't tell your GM."Doh. Of course Rizzo is in on it YOU DOLT. But Boras doesn't need to have his client first signed by the Yankees and then traded to the Nats to make that happen? Don't YOU READ? Or did you never hear of the commercial reading is fundamental Candide? Okay Homer? Take the radioactive rod out of your pocket now.

But it's not going to be an every other day thing. That's not what the A and B bullpen construct means.What it means is Davey plans ahead on how he wants his starters and bullpen to lineup. He'll try to make the choices based on availability and match ups. Which is different from what you are suggesting. Yes, he really does think that far in advance. That's why he is renowned for his bullpen management.

Peric -I think it's only in rare situations involving teams overspending in the draft that certain "compensatory" picks can be traded. Here's what Wikipedia says about that:Bonus poolFrom the 2012 draft on, each team is allocated a "bonus pool" from which it can offer initial contracts to its drafted players. Each team's pool is based on its draft position and number of picks, plus the amount spent in the previous year's draft. For the 2012 draft, these pools ranged from $4.5 million to $11.5 million. If a team goes over its threshold by 5 percent or less, it must pay a "luxury tax" of 75% on the amount over the threshold. Teams that go 5 to 10 percent over must pay a 100% tax on the excess, and will lose their next first-round pick. A team that goes 15 percent over can lose its next two first-round picks, in addition to the "luxury tax". These excess picks will go to smaller-revenue teams via a yet-to-be-reported formula. Uniquely, these compensatory picks can be traded—marking the first time MLB has allowed trading of draft picks. However, all previous rules against trading of regular picks, or picks awarded as free agent compensation, remain in force.

So LaRoche gets millions less than Soriano a few days later after all the BS, and he's about a month older. Who will be worth more?LaRoche didn't hire Boras. He might have fared better. Plus I don't think LaRoche can repeat last season or even close to it at his age. There appears to be a better chance that Soriano will. But you never know.

I think we should all pause and recognize that Kilgore kind of called this back on January 6. Of course, one of the things that would make it possible, in his view, was the money that would be saved by not signing ALR.

Wow. I did NOT see this coming! It makes me wonder when the other shoe will drop – I see this as a move that makes certain other moves possible.I now think an offer for David Price moves into the realm of legitimate possibility. Package Morse (for 2012), Detwiler and either Storen or Espinosa to the Rays for Price (who isn't a free agent until after the 2015 season, but is arbitration eligible and will therefore become pricey). The Rays need a bat to compete in 2012, and could afford Morse with Price's contract off the books. They also get two cost-controlled, high upside players going forward. Espinosa would give the Rays an infield of Longoria (3b), Espinosa (SS), Zobrist (2b) and Morse (1b). Detwiler fills in their rotation.The Nats slide Lombardozzi into 2b and the #2 spot in the lineup, moving Werth down to the #6 spot. Carlos Rivero moves into the utility IF/bench guy spot. It all sounds so plausible, it will never happen

Espinosa (SS), Zobrist (2b) and Morse (1b). Detwiler fills in their rotation.They aren't going to trade Espinosa. There was probably a better chance they would trade Desmond after his miserable 2nd season in the pros than Espy? C'mon! Forget about it. Its not going to happen. They aren't going to put Lombo or Rendon at second base not with Zim's three injury filled years.

I agree that Davey is renowned for his bullpen management. And what I described is the way he would like to do it if he had the right arms. I remember him very clearly saying that he doesn't like the way most bullpens are set up where some guys always pitch when you have a lead and others pitch when you're behind. He wants the A and B bullpens to be equally good, so that the A team doesn't get worn out when you're on a winning streak. Ideally, relievers would pitch every other day. That's always been his preference. You can look it up, but I just did:Just in case you're too lazy to click the link, here's the money quote: "Basically, Johnson says that he has always divided his bullpen into two groups, A and B. The group he uses alternates by the day with only the closer remaining constant. That is except for this season because he's designated Henry Rodriguez and Brad Lidge as A and B closers. I'm not sure which is which, or which is better. That's only part of my confusion.I'll let Davey take if from here:"I've done it my whole career," Johnson said. "I don't see any other way, if you're handling arms at a very high level, than that the ideal situation is pitch, day off, pitch. I won't give examples, but if you go with your main guys every time you're tied or up, they're gonna run out of gas halfway through the season. So you have to have confidence in the other side of your bullpen.""You're welcome.

Section 222 -No, the draft order is determined strictly by regular season standings.The Nats were #31 but had moved up two slots in the standings due to the signings of Josh Hamilton by the Angels and B.J. Upton by the Braves. Both Hamilton and Upton had qualifying offers.The only other player among the nine players with qualifying offers to change teams so far is Nick Swisher. The Indians did not have to forfeit a pick for signing Swisher because the first round picks of the bottom nine ranking teams are protected.

From Fangraph's Jeff Sullivan, Let’s ignore the vesting option; that kicks in if Soriano finishes 120 games between 2013-2014, and Soriano’s never finished 60 games in a season once, let alone twice, let alone consecutively. That’s probably not much of a factor. Still, I think we have to conclude that Soriano probably won’t be worth this contract. No matter how you figure reliever valuation, Soriano’s getting $14 million a year for two years. He’d have to be incredible to be worth that, and then there’s also the matter of the lost draft pick.Mathematically, this is probably an overpay. The Nationals are in a situation where they don’t have to worry too terribly much about a slight overpayment. They’re fantastic, and a World Series championship justifies an awful lot. They’re in a better spot now.

from MLBTR:Rays executive VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he’s still looking to add a bat and, potentially, a reliever, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reportsHmmmm… wonder who he'd be talking to

Section 222 you are quoting the A&B bullpens out of context. Johnson never had the luxury of multiple closers and was forced into that situation last season due to Storen's injury … now he as TWO BONAFIDE closers. Either one could be relegated to the A or B side … and if he is smart (and Davey is smart) he will alternate that periodically to give each chances to close games where the Nats have a lead and save them down the stretch. A&B bullpens the WHOLE STORY in contextYou're welcome.

Late jumping in1. Peric, play nice, you have been so much better lately. It's ok if someone a. didn't understand or b. disagrees with you2. Not sure why anyone is upset we are spending more money. It is not ours and believe me, the Lerners have it. 3. I think I like the move and while I trust Ghost a bunch, I am not certain Clip or Storen will be moved quickly.4. The Storen/Clippard thing is very interesting and I am not sure how I did not hear that before this. Doubt if it makes any difference to anyone on the nationals or in the front office (at least I hope it does not).5. Like a few others, I continued to hold out hope for HRod. That hope has diminished just a bit. Hard to see him in our top 7 but man do we have a great top 7.6. Morse will now not have to pitch in relief and can resume just worrying about corner outfield and infield along with dh and pinch hitting (thats a joke people if you haven't been playing along).Go Nats!! World Series or Bust!! Keep Morse!!

Forget about the money, easy for me to say. This will be off the books in 2 years so don't think Davey must use Soriano exclusively as the closer because he's getting $14mil. This makes the bullpen better, period.Rizz is definitely not afraid to ruffle some feathers. He's all about what makes the team better, especially in the post season.

I'm just going by Davey's own words peric. And sure, use someone other than Soriano periodically, just as I said. When Soriano needs a night off, use Clipp or Storen. If we keep both Storen and Clipp, I think it's much more likely that he alternates them in the 8th and uses Soriano as his primary closer than that he alternates Soriano and Storen as closers. Alternating closers would mean having two relievers who are only used in every other save opportunity. And unlike the 8th inning, save opportunities don't happen in every game, so that's a real waste of a bullpen slot. I was excited to see that you actually posted a link, something you rarely do, and then found it was the same article I had linked to. So no thanks.

Somebody earlier was talking about Clip in the 7th, Drew in the 8th and Boras….er…Soriano closing. That would pretty much turn the game into a 6 inning game for teams against us. If your losing after 6, you call in the dogs and head for home cause its night night time. Maybe keep Hrod to walk some people and make it interesting.

Adam Kilgore‏@AdamKilgoreWP Nats could make a trade, and if they do I'd bet Clippard is likeliest. But Soriano is about depth. Scouts thought the Nats tired last year. HMMMMMMMMM.. he seems to be right when guessing the next move by the nats.

The Storen/Clippard thing is very interesting and I am not sure how I did not hear that before this. Doubt if it makes any difference to anyone on the nationals or in the front office (at least I hope it does not).I'm pretty sure it's a figment of NL's vivid imagination.

Davey using A nad B closers his whole career is a myth, even if Davey himself professes it. Randy Meyers was the closer for Davey's O's, Jeff Shaw for the Dodgers. If he has a guy he can rely on he uses the guy. If Lidge had been reliable, he would have closed when Storen was hurt. HRod did not alternate nights for Saves when he got the nod. Mid season it was Clipp, Clipp, Clipp for saves. Late in the season when Storen came back it was Storen, Storen, Storen to close. Unless the guy was unusable he used him. Let's face it — Rafael Soriano is your 2013 Nats closer and no one outside of Storen himslef should be upset at all about that.

Don, I agree that Soriano is our closer this year. But Davey has never professed to use A and B closers. If you read the article that both peric and I linked to, all he said is that he likes his A and B bullpens to both be good enough to go to in close games. That way he doesn't burn his best guys out. But that doesn't count the closer since the closer doesn't pitch every day. He always uses a single closer. Even Davey's description of his A and B bullpen is kind of a myth as the author of the article points out. And last year, Burnett and Clipp usually handed the 7th and 8th in tight, important games.

Nats could make a trade, and if they do I'd bet Clippard is likeliest. But Soriano is about depth. Scouts thought the Nats tired last year.Add on to that the fact that Mattheus is definitely a power arm and Clippard is on the cusp and Davey has always said he likes at least two left-handed arms in the bullpen, so unless Bray really screws up or is injured he has to be in. If 222 is right then Storen becomes a setup guy to Soriano's close along with Mattheus and H-Rod. Storen is the backup closer. Clipp as a former All Star potentially returns the most value.

So help me, if Clippard gets traded away, it's another trip to the black pit of despair for this fangirl.Please, please, please, I'm begging. Rizzo, just be greedy now and go ahead and keep all three of them. Thanks.

I think the one thing we can agree on is when Gio & Det pitch, Stammen will be rested and when our right handers go it will be Duke next up. I do like that both Mattheus and Clip get lefties out well but Bray is definitely a possibility. I do understand that Clip would bring the most value but it will be hard to see him leave after all he has given us. Again, like I said on the early post, we have now crossed into entirely different expectations for this team. The battle just to make the 25 man roster is incredibly tough.222 – I think it today's world you are probably correct that it would not be kept hush/hush.

And every other team that NEEDS pitching is watching VasquezPeter Gammons‏@pgammoJavy Vazquez can pitch Caguas to Puerto Rican title Tuesday, many clubs in to see if he tops out @ 95 again. Boston has seen every start

peric said:They are not going to trade for Cano!!! You might as well move Morse to 2nd base you'd get more production and he could play the position.And then said….Why help the Yankees by saddling them with Cano? They have his offense in Morse and Morse can and has played 2nd base probably at close to Cano's skill level.—————————Ok, what are you smoking? Morse has played exactly 19 games at 2B, ALL in the minors in 2009. During those 19 games, he made three errors. In 154 games last year, Cano made six. Exactly how is that showing Morse "close to" Cano's skill level?

I was excited to see that you actually posted a link, something you rarely do, and then found it was the same article I had linked to.That's a lie. I've posted at least 4 today. I am fairly certain I post more links and give out far more attributions than you do by a very long country mile.You're welcome.

This is just what they needed. This is going for it. This is how you win. This is how you upgrade your odds of winning it all. Well done Rizzo….Well Done Lerners.Interesting that Rizzo did just what I wanted him to do…….that means he is really dumb right?

Morse has played exactly 19 games at 2B, ALL in the minors in 2009. During those 19 games, he made three errors. In 154 games last year, Cano made six. Exactly how is that showing Morse "close to" Cano's skill level?It isn't. Whoever made that statement didn't actually consult any stats. Obviously.Some people seem to have the idea that since Morse originally was a shortstop and played a few games there in 2005-2007, he can play 3B or 2B in 2013. That's a breathtaking leap of logic. The only infield position Morse is ever going to play from here on out is 1B.

Ok, what are you smoking? Morse has played exactly 19 games at 2B, ALL in the minors in 2009. During those 19 games, he made three errors. In 154 games last year, Cano made six. Exactly how is that showing Morse "close to" Cano's skill level?Can doesn't run. He has NO range. Morse at least tries? Sure 2012 he had his first non-negative positive UZR since he was a just about newbie to the majors. He is NO Espinosa. Especially since he is on a 1 year and done (like Morse) and his agent is Boras (as is Espinosa's for that matter. Again, folks tend to overestimate Spankees.

Some people seem to have the idea that since Morse originally was a shortstop and played a few games there in 2005-2007, he can play 3B or 2B in 2013. That's a breathtaking leap of logic. The only infield position Morse is ever going to play from here on out is 1B.57 games at shortstop in the majors and 9 games at first base with 124 games in each corner outfield position? Sure he weighed 50 pounds less than he does now. BUT he could still do it. Sorry I'm just not impressed with Cano's ability to play second base …. at all. He is mostly a bat just like Morse. And if you believe otherwise you didn't consult the scouts dude.

Interesting that Rizzo did just what I wanted him to do…….that means he is really dumb right?And I suppose you are now claiming to have come up with this first? Before Ghost and Kilgore? Not likely JayB. No, he did not do what you wanted him to do. He buttressed the bullpen he didn't go out and trade the farm away for Justin Upton.

I said he should get a top of the line closer…..I did not say which one or how. I said he should spend money and go for it now…the window is smaller than most think….Well then he didn't do what you said (and I doubt you said that). He got another insurance policy like Harren at age 33. A better choice over the recovering Brad Lidge who really was once a top closer. Soriano closed for TB and 1 year with the Yankees. He's a good reliever but he's not Mariano Rivero in his prime.

How many innings at a position other than 1B or OF in 2007? Fourteen (14). How many since 2007? Four (4). Yet he's capable of playing 2B "close" to Cano's ability. Sorry, but you don't have to think that Cano is Espi to know that that assessment is way off base. By the way, in those 9 games at 3B in '06, '07 and '09, he averaged less than 4 innings in each (a total of 32.2 innings), and all of 11 chances!! Oh, he did play 3 innings at SS in '06 and '07, but had no chances.

Peric…..come on now….MR in his prime is the best closer of all time….I said top of the line…that is what they got.Stop playing the zero sum game….two can be right….win win…..and THIS IS A WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sects222,.can you find my October posts about Rizzo going after Madson or Soriano. Just curious since JayB says he also suggested it.Thanks. Also my gut says Clippard is a strength and won't be traded. Now the bullpen is.a strength.

"BUT he could still do it. Sorry I'm just not impressed with Cano's ability to play second base …. at all. He is mostly a bat just like Morse. And if you believe otherwise you didn't consult the scouts dude."Hmmm. MLB just put ML 2nd basemen through their shredder, and added Bill James' assessment, plus Harold Reynolds' opinion, and that of a former 2-time GM Executive of the Year, all of whom rated the top ten 2nd basemen in the MLs, right now. There was complete unanimity:"Cano is in a class by himself":http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25551269&topic_id=7417714Neither MLB's shredder, nor sabermetric guru Bill James, nor the former GM Exec of the Year had Danny Espinoza on their list of the top ten 2nd basemen. Reynolds had him rated 9th on his list, and was the only evaluator who even mentioned him. Reynolds especially likes the way Cano plays defense. Defense was the main reason Reynolds was the only one who named Danny to his top ten, at all. If you believe otherwise, try and catch a rerun of that show.

Part of me wants to trade Espinosa, Morse, Detwiler, Bernadina and a B-level prospect to Tampa for David Price. I wonder if they'd do that?I still think Lombardozzi is a great second baseman (he won the 2011 Minor League Gold Glove at second and will be a .280 hitter with a .345 OBP and 25 steals. But if Espinosa figures it out like Ian did he could be a .260-28-80 guy with 25 steals and a Gold Glove. so I don't know. I seem to be a little less concerned about our minor league depth than most of you. I was two or three years ago, but the Nationals have a pretty good second tier of players ready to go (Moore, Rendon, etc.) and the majority of this group is young and will be around for some time. Farid @ Idaho

Ghost, can I owe you a drink just for saying so? It brought me off the ledge a little. Ghost Of Steve M. said… Also my gut says Clippard is a strength and won't be traded. Now the bullpen is.a strength.

For the record, here's JayB calling for Rizzo to spend on a "proven closer" on December 16 and December 31.He also strongly preferred ALR to Morse at 1B. I'd say he's been proven a Rizzo horse whisperer, rather than a "hater." What's he going to do next JayB? Do tell.

He also strongly preferred ALR to Morse at 1B. I'd say he's been proven a Rizzo horse whisperer, rather than a "hater." What's he going to do next JayB?He spends most of the time criticizing Rizzo NOT congratulating him as he did today? Its like he doesn't remember what it was like with the leather pants Segway Joy riding JimBo on most days.

This is truly a great move. Nobody is going to have a better pitching staff in the playoffs. Pen will not be burned. Starters will be protected…..Keep Morse (change for me). Get him 350 ABs and have a DH ready for inter league and WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!!!

Reynolds especially likes the way Cano plays defense. Defense was the main reason Reynolds was the only one who named Danny to his top ten, at all. So, Laddie Blah Blah you are saying that you believe Reynolds believes that Robinson Cano could be a gold-glove shortstop in the majors? But Espinosa can.Dream on. He a Spankee that's all that makes him special. He's just Dan Uggla in pin stripes.

Ghost, in October, you said the Nats would be tied to Boras clients — Bourn, Madson, and Soriano. In December, you said this. I'd give you props for that for sure. Lots of us have been worried about replacing Burnett in the bullpen, but very few thought Rizzo might, or should, go after a big time expensive closer.

Thanks Sect222. I thought it was going to happen but then it looked like Boras and Rizzo had gone off the same page.You need a killer as your closer and Storen is too nice. I think as I once wrote he had them by the neck and couldn't snap it.

"That would pretty much turn the game into a 6 inning game for teams against us. If your losing after 6, you call in the dogs . . .."In the end, that's the name of this tune. It allows Johnson to continue to pander to/pamper wimpy starters who fold like overcooked Chef Boyardi after 5-6 innings. This is the one weak spot in Johnson's managerial repertoire. If he can't get seven innings out of these fragile arms on more than an infrequent basis, then the BP arms — all of them — will be worn out by the end of the regular season and Soriano may well get his 60 Games Finished.

The other weird thing is the universal praise we are receiving from not only the writers, but the ex-MLB Folks. Just weird being in this position.On another note, the Braves fans on twitter are having a hissy since our bullpen is now just as competitive as theirs.

MicheleS – you nailed it! I am getting more and more of our regulars here to at least think about it and as for beers at Justin's that is a small price to pay. I think the key would be if FeelWood declares positively, absolutely that it won't happen. Since I sit one section away (and am not moving my seat), I am pretty sure Feel understands a little teasing.Go Nats!! World Series or Bust!! Keep Morse!!and I don't care who said what first, I just love the fact that you are all passionate about our lads. JayB, that was a good call by you and I am now worried that 222 can go back and find pretty much anything we have said here.

Yes, I believe the last straw was the significant glance the two exchanged while turning a page. ;-)Feel Wood said… Actually, Clip and Store were headed down that road until Clippard made the mistake of getting filmed reading Fifty Shades of Gray to some other guys. January 15, 2013 5:27 PM

Likewise, and I don't give a rat's patootie who said what first, either. (Oops, did I say that last part out loud? :-))NatsJack in Florida said… Again……I prefer to sit back and watch Rizzo work his magic. January 15, 2013 6:15 PM

Theo – it is true that Davey did baby Strasburg and Zimm. I think you will see that continue with SS and Det but maybe not so much with Zimm. If Haren is well, we would have 3 guys who can go deeper into games. The great thing now, with this bullpen is that we sure that the ability to bring in a stud as early as the 6th inning.

Just read this from ESPN Insider(The signing also means the Nats don't have to trade Mike Morse for a reliever, as has been speculated. They can keep and use him as depth/injury insurance for the outfield and first base.) The movement is growing people!!natsfan1a – in respect for your habits, I will take a bottled water or ice tea. Soft drinks are bad for your health.

Not sure I'm a fan of this move. Storen lives and dies on the emotion/pressure of being the guy in the 9th. He's a very high ceiling guy who would have done well with a full year of seasoning as the go-to closer. And, with so much of the heart and soul of our team declared for arbitration, I think we're going to need the money that we could have saved here. It would have been much safer (wiser?) to match Burnett or bring in Howell. I hope this is the piece that will put us over the top in October. But, I think run production will be the bigger issue for the '13 lineup. If we win the WS, I'll happily quiet down.

"So, Laddie Blah Blah you are saying that you believe Reynolds believes that Robinson Cano could be a gold-glove shortstop in the majors? But Espinosa can.Dream on. He a Spankee that's all that makes him special. He's just Dan Uggla in pin stripes."I don't see Cano play often enough to have an informed opinion on his fielding ability, but he sure has impressed 12-year ML veteran 2nd baseman Harold Reynolds, 2-time Cleveland GM Exec of the year John Hart, sabermetric guru Bill Walsh, and the MLB "shredder". You certainly have a right to your own opinion, but I am wondering who those 'scouts" are who can be so much more right than the stats indicate, and the guys who are generally considered experts in their field.Only someone who has not checked the stats, himself, would be uninformed enough to compare Uggla's bat with Cano's. Cano is a surefire HOF player. His numbers rank with the best of all time. Uggla will not even make the ballot. Nor will Espinoza. Heck, Danny did not even rate mention on 3 of MLB's top ten evaluators, except for the next-to-last slot on Reynold's evaluation.Do your homework.

Keeping Morse through 2013 could definitely happen. The thing that absolutely won't happen is Rizzo giving him an extension so he'll be happy sitting on the bench.That just might depend on what happens this spring … if he has another break out spring like he did in 2011? I believe Rizzo still likes to see competition … whenever possible.

Do your homework.Yes you should try it sometime there Laddie Blah Blah?There's this from Fangraphs :There exist other numbers, however, that suggest Cano has indeed turned himself into a better over all player. The big strides he has made have not been at the plate, but rather in the field. I saw Cano play quite a bit in 2002 when he was assigned to low-A Greensboro, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that he was a defensive disaster. His footwork was laughably bad, and while he showed athleticism, there were just no fundamentals that suggested he was even on the path to becoming a big league middle infielder.He wasn’t much better by the time he got to the majors, in 2005, as he posted a -21.2 UZR in his rookie year. Despite hitting well for a second baseman, he gave back nearly all of his value by failing to convert outs behind his pitchers. Again, I figured it was only a matter of time until Cano was shifted to the outfield, where his athleticism could play well and his inability to react quickly would be of less importance.To his credit though, Cano has put in a tremendous amount of work, turning himself into a competent defender. No, he’ll never win a gold glove, but his +2.3 UZR to date this season is no longer the kind of shocking number that makes people question the system itself. While a couple of months of UZR data isn’t large enough to make any conclusions, his UZR since the 2006 season is just -12.4, or about -3 runs per year.Yes, his fielding has improved but to HOF levels? Guys like Nap LaJoie? Carew? Morgan? Hornsby? Alomar? Frisch? Robinson? Sandberg? Now I am really snickering at you? And you claim to be some sort of computer whiz? Not on your life dude.Heck Cano isn't as good as Davey Johnson and I don't see him in the HOF. Then there's this by William Tasker: Fangraphs ranked Cano the sixth best second baseman in baseball last year. And over the last three years, that same site ranks Cano third behind Ben Zobrist and Chase Utley. Utley, unfortunately, seems on the wrong side of history with knee problems. Zobrist is not a true second baseman as he plays right and first base too. Both kill Cano with their fielding rankings. Dustin Pedroia is in the same category as knocking Cano silly in fielding metrics. But when it comes to offense, Cano is clearly the leader with the highest wOBA and wRC+ for second basemen over the past three seasons. Fangraphs ranks his play as averaging $23.4 million a year for the past three years.You want a prediction? I'll give you one. Espinosa is going to make people forget who Cano even is in a very short time. Mark my words. Sheesh. DO YOUR HOMEWORK FOOL!

NatsLady,I'm leaning toward since he could not get Vazquez he went this route instead. The bullpen was throwing too many innings last year. Over the last 3 years Clippard threw more innings in relief than anyone else in baseball. This will save some innings for the whole staff. That said I still think Rizzo wants Vazquez just don't know if there is enough room for him?Rizzo wants to prove that you can have too much pitching .

sjm308 — Re: going long into games, Strasburg had an excuse, and Zimmermann and to some extent Detwiler may have rationalizations, but Gonzalez in my mind was the worst/most unsympathetic offender. The guy reached the fifth or sixth inning, the strike zone was weaving back and forth in front of his eyes, and he had already thrown 110 pitches. This year I'll still cut Strasburg a break — at least until he learns to strike batters out on less than 6-7 pitches. But the others need to strap it on and pitch like grown men. By the end of last year, Burnett and Clippard had been seriously over-used/over-exposed (every hitter in the league had seen Clippard's straight change), and Storen, too (coming of injury, no ST). And that will happen again this year if Johnson continues to operate a zip line between the mound and the dugout.

wow, I get in late today and there is huge news, well over 300 posts so far today, the resident inmates are claiming control of the asylum, and meanwhile the Nats just got a hell of a lot better. A couple of weeks ago, with the ALR situation unsettled we still looked like even money to compete for the NL East crown. Then with ALR signed we looked to have pulled slightly ahead of the Braves in most, if not all categories, except for the bullpen. Now, as of today the Braves don't stack up better then us even in the pen. In Rizzo We Trust, and I trust that he will still pull another rabbit out of his hat. Fasten your seat belts folks, we're moving into hyper-drive!Of, yeah, I will attest to JayB's tone regarding the pen. It pretty much started the day after Game 5.As to the Cano/Morse/Espinosa 2nd base argument, I'm back to rolling my eyes. You gotta be kidding me.

Ghost Of Steve M. said… Rizzo can't trade Morse for a trade like he did with Willingham, and to even consider a trade would be somewhat contingent on getting a new CF or corner outfielder and seeing what the Nats do with Adam LaRoche. A key is Morse has to stay healthy.I don't think the Danny Espinosa situation has to be addressed right away and Rendon could be the answer there.EJax is gone and failed at exactly what he was brought here for which was to be a top of the rotation starter and postseason leader.October 13, 2012 1:25 PM __________________________________Ghost, reading through your posts after the Game 5 meltdown.Its as if you knew the Nats would get a new OF and get rid of EJax as you said.

Ghost Of Steve M. said… I don't see Bourn fitting the plan but I believe Rizzo should pursue Lohse and will be tied to Boras's closers. October 21, 2012 8:03 PM_______________________________Good stuff.

Faraz – The "Soriano is overpaid" argument is flawed by just looking at the 2 years $28M figures. The truth is we really only pay $7M in 13 and 14 and then $1M per year from 2018 – 2025. Don't want to get into time value of money, but deferring that compensation makes this a much more reasonable deal from a financial perspective.

Ghost Of Steve M. said… I believe the Nats can start to settle in around $120 million in payroll. Easy for me to spend their money. They will no longer be spending big on Draft Picks and the shift now has to be to extending current players (JZim and Desi) while re-signing ALR and grabbing 1 key starter that will make an impact. If they do that, all key roster spots will be under control in 2014 and 2015 as well with the exception of Morse and a backup catcher.October 18, 2012 10:56 AM _________________________________You say $120 million. Aren't the Nats near $120 million now.

Doug,I agree with you, in fact I'm guessing now Soriano wishes he took the 13.3 from the Yankees for one year. I would think he he could have gotten at least 2 years at 7 million the year after without it being deferred? Happy to have him, on paper the bullpen looks tough I would think that someone still might be traded for a LH reliever but maybe it will be a package deal even bigger. Only Rizzo knows?

I gave myself some time to think it over but I am still not a fan of this move. An overpay is an overpay whether Nats can afford it or not. I don't think it is the best use of resources.Feel the same way about Werth Faraz. And the sad thing is because of Werth we probably lose Morse who is far more productive offensively with his .857 OPS over the last three seasons. Sure he fields better but he is older and I fear with the 2nd wrist injury not a run producer as he was in the past. His high OBP saves him. But is he worth it as the highest paid player? 21 million per annum his last years?No friggin' way.

Doug, I understand that. I am looking from worth perspective. While I understood Jayson's signing, I don't get this signing.Over the course of last four seasons, Soriano has pitched 245 IP (2011 he pitched only 39 innings due to injury), For relievers who have pitched at least 240 innings in last four seasons, Soriano ranks 8th for K/BB ratio. Guess who is 9th? Clip, making fraction of what Soriano will earn in this contract. Soriano, for same criteria, ranks 3rd in BAA at .197. Guess who is second? Clip with .185. Of course, these are select stats of my choice that show Clip as better. There are other advanced numbers that suggest Soriano has been better. We are all too familiar with Clip and heart problems he has caused over the years, but I doubt Soriano will completely make us forget about either Storen and Clip's struggles. Time will tell I guess. I hope I am wrong as always and Soriano closes game 7 (or 4, 5, 6) for Nats in WS the coming two seasons.

I want to win, and I'm all for anything that makes it less likely Bad Henry will spoil dinner.That said, the WS or Bust philosophy bothers me.The Nats gave up Alex Meyer and now they're forfeiting their top pick. This pick is valuable. The Nats got Meyer at No. 23 and Goodwin at No. 34.The Nats will be here when Davey's gone. They need to restock their minor league pitching.

"To his credit though, Cano has put in a tremendous amount of work, turning himself into a competent defender. No, he’ll never win a gold glove, but his +2.3 UZR to date this season is no longer the kind of shocking number that makes people question the system itself."Uh, what season are you talking about? Do you even know who won the GG for AL 2nd basemen in 2012? Look it up, "fool." Cano has won 3 straight silver sluggers and 2 out of the last 3 gold gloves, "fool."Do your homework.

Faraz,Soriano was signed because of his experience. He has pitched in the the post season the last 3 years and when you pitch for the Yankees you get extra credit.Not sure how the deferred contract works out does get it get counted for team payroll with the luxury tax?Soriano was the best relief pitcher left and now he is a Nat, will it workout? Yes over a 162 game season it will. Will it make a difference in the post season god willing? Too hard to say.Over Pay? Not if your team motto is World Series or Bust.

Uh, Peric, FYI, just so you stop making a complete fool of yourself, this is from the press release announcing Cano's Gold Glove for 2012: "Cano, who led all American League second basemen with 726 chances in 2012, finished second in the league with a .992 fielding percentage while making just six errors. This marks his second career Gold Glove Award (also 2010).He is just one of two Yankees second basemen to win a Gold Glove, along with Bobby Richardson, who won the honor in five straight seasons from 1961-65. Cano also holds two of the three best single-season fielding percentages by a second baseman in franchise history with his third-best mark in 2012 and his club-best .996 in 2010 (3E in 776 total chances). Snuffy Stirnweiss owns the second-highest single-season mark by a Yankees second baseman (.993 in 1948).Since his debut in 2005, Cano has played in more games (1,197), made more starts (1,171) and played more innings (10,413.1) at second base than any other Major Leaguer. He has also tallied the most chances (5,891) and been part of the most double plays (788) at his position over the stretch."

Uh, what season are you talking about? Do you even know who won the GG for AL 2nd basemen in 2012?Uh maybe because he's a SPANKEEE??? That's why? There are MANY FAR more deserving GG candidates at second base including Danny Espinosa who must have the best range and arm of any 2B defender in all of major league baseball.DOH! Do your home work Homer and take the spent rod out of your pocket its doing brain damage. Doh! GG is political as much as a performance award.

Uh, what season are you talking about? Do you even know who won the GG for AL 2nd basemen in 2012?ONLY OLD, really OLD fools use fielding percentage which is probably one of the least accurate gauges of performance in major league baseball? Its all about the UZR and its derivatives which are better, less biased stats.Take the radioactive pile from your pocket fool its starting to light your hair on fire.

It's bad enough when a blogger calls another blogger names, but when you are just flat out wrong, don't you think an apology is in order?BUT I AM RIGHT YOU OLD COOT. I posted 2 eyewitness accounts of SCOUTS. His UZR is easily accessible through fangraphs.Morons. Morons. Morons.

Laddie, I hope you don't mind, but I added you to the Beverage list, you fine sir, deserve a beverage of your choice. Your in Column SAnother moron who doesn't believe that Morse might actually be as good a fielder at second base as Cano if he had had that much experience. And Morse has the better bat.You owe 101 drinks lady.

Laddie Blah Blah said… Uh, Peric, FYI, just so you stop making a complete fool of yourself, ——————————————–Too late, Laddie,much too late. I haven't followed the Beverage list, but I'd gladly buy you a round.peric, you're pulling on Superman's cape, and you're spitting into the wind, on this one. Son, when you find yourself in a hole, quit digging.

Peric,Since it appears you read into everything. Let m explain. Laddie has an excellent contributor to the blog for a long time, He has added to the discourse on this blog and for all the information provided and I just wished to add a small appreciation for that.My scroll past was due to the fact that my comment was directed at JoeS and whether or not he and Mrs S would be at FanFest. Whatever you read into that is beyond me.That list of drinks is open to all, so if you wish to contribute I am sure you can add. It's decided by all not by one. It's a list of appreciation among the imaginary friends.And if I am a sychophant, then thanks at least I know I am a fan of my team, and the head cheerleader- great! I was a band geek, so I am sure the cheerleaders would be shocked right now.

I hope Mark writes about arbitration tomorrow. I am wondering what these guys will get. JZim, Desi? Can you even imagine going to arbitration with Buster Posey? The dollars are getting seriously real now.

SJM.. haven't heard a thing. Not really into the autographs either, but would love to just listen to G&A with Rizzo/Davey. This is my first one. Just checking it out with the good nephew (degenerate nephew is under house arrest). Figure check it out, if it's not fun, then go out to eat.

MicheleS, thanks for the Det link. That was nice to read.sjm308, there should be photo ops with the players, question and answer sessions with Rizzo and the FO, and I think I heard something about explaining how the tickets would be handled. Probably other things I don't remember.

On NatsFest, I'm going again this year, and I tend to stay put and listen to the speakers for the most part. Speakers: "World Series or bust." Me: "My, this red beverage is delicious!" (Glug glug) "I'll have another, please." :-)Some observers: "What a homer." (Eyeroll)Speaking of beverages and for the record, when I originally used the "Jinx. Buy me a Coke" construct here, it was a salute to the childhood jinx game. In that game, the sequence is triggered when two people inadvertently speak at the same time. I applied it to commenting at the same time with similar thoughts/words. It has nothing to do with who said what first (days, weeks, months, or even years ago), or with forcing soft drinks on those who would rather not partake. In my mind, any beverages were virtual, not tangible.I didn't create the NIDO spreadsheet, but I'm pretty sure that anyone who wants to can partake or not, either virtually or in reality (that's up to the two parties in question, I would think).On another note, I was never a cheerleader in school, but I think I do pretty well from the stands. Do you think maybe I could join the squad, Michele?

From the Department of Whoops, in the course of posting my jinx game explanation to the NIDO as background, I inadvertently deleted another usage note in the same cell (for the kitty entry). Apologies to whoever posted the original note, and if you can figure out how to repost it in the same cell while retaining my background note, have at it. (I'm no Excel wiz.)